Rash of Appointments Sparks Media Criticism
August 21, 2009
Author: CFM Staff
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The recent rash of appointments of Democratic legislators to state administrative positions generated predictable editorial criticism, not to mention a few smirks from Republicans.
The Eugene Register-Guard said this week the appointments leave state government "open to suspicions of favoritism or back-scratching." The Bend Bulletin summed up the appointments as "not a pretty picture." The Tigard Times says the appointments raise public skepticism about the motives of lawmakers in running for office.
The appointment that sparked the editorials involves long-time lawmaker Margaret Carter, who was named this week to a newly created position at the Department of Human Services. The Bend Bulletin said Carter, as co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee that crafted the agency's budget, angled during the session for a job.
"DHS created the position for her," The Bulletin editorialized. "DHS considered no one else. The job pays $121,872 per year."
The newspaper surmised Carter's interest in the position had a lot to do with bumping up benefit level under the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Working a couple of years at a much higher salary than what lawmakers get will sharply increase her PERS payout. Carter is 73.
The week before, two-term Rep. Larry Galizio, D-Tigard, said he would resign to take a newly created job with the Oregon University System. Galizio also served on the Ways and Means Committee and had sent out signals during the session he was looking for a job opportunity.
Previously, Governor Kulongoski appointed veteran Senator Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, to chair the state Parole Board.
"Carter isn't the first legislator to take a well-paid job in state government," wrote the Register-Guard. In addition to Walker, it noted Kulongoski had named former Senator Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, to head the state Employment Appeals Board and former Senator Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, to chair the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
The governor also plucked two moderate Republicans from the legislature – former Rep. Lane Shetterly, R-Dallas, to serve as director of the Department of Land Conservation and Development, and former Rep. Max Williams, R-Tigard, to heads the state Corrections Department.
"It's a sure bet that if the position {Carter's) had been advertised, DHS Director Bruce Goldberg's desk would have been piled with resumes submitted by people with doctorates and decades of experience overseeing human services agencies," the Register-Guard said. "Too bad it didn't happen that way. Instead, the door is opened wide for the assumption that a high-paying job was created as a reward for legislative work."
The Tigard Times echoed that point. "The recent case of Galizio and Walker getting prime state jobs only reinforces skepticism about whether some legislators position themselves for employment by using their legislative service as a springboard."
The House Republican office made a point of circulating the editorials. Republican Leader Bruce Hanna, R-Roseburg, also announced legislation for the 2010 supplemental session to "close the Capitol's revolving door" by restricting the ability of legislators from accepting state agency jobs until their terms end.
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